Bungie opens Destiny beta to all

Bungie's shooter-RPG-hybrid and Halo franchise follow-up Destiny is now available for all to beta test, without the need for an invitation code and across all console platforms - but, sadly, not PC.

First announced in February this year, Destiny will be immediately familiar to fans of the Halo franchise thanks to its futuristic setting, armoured characters and fast-paced first-person combat. Where the game differs from its spiritual predecessors is in the melding of role-playing and massively multiplayer elements, bringing weapons and equipment customisation into the mix. A limited beta programme has helped whet appetites for the title, and Bungie has now declared that it's time for a larger-scale roll-out.

'The Beta has been eye-opening so far. We’ve watched the world of Destiny come to life. Guardians from every platform have arrived at the Tower from their battles in the wild. We have watched your adventures with great interest, and listened to your feedback. Your missions have provided us with volumes of discoveries we can use to prepare for the launch of Destiny in September,' the company wrote in a blog post on the matter. 'Today, at 4:00 PM PDT, we’re opening the Destiny Beta to anyone who wants to create a character and walk in their boots.'

The public beta requires no invitation code, and can be downloaded from the various marketplaces on the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PS4 consoles. Missing, however, is any mention of a PC beta - another slap in the face for the platform which will see its version of the game launched in March 2015, a full six months after the console release.